Chaeles p



(No Model.)

0. P. HOWE.

' GATE.-

No. 323,684. Patented Aug. 4, 1885.

flttorney NJ PETERS, PhoWLimugmphur. Wuhingion. D. C.

NITED STATES PATENT @FFIGE.

CHARLES P. HOWE, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,684, dated August 4, 1885.

' Application filed March 24, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. Hown, a citizen of the United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in gates of that class known as tiltingand folding gates, and is designed to produce a gate that will automatically lock itself when down and close the passage by means which will not interfere in the least with the operation of tilting.

Theimproveinent consists, essentially,in the locking and operating mechanism.

111 describing the device reference is had to the annexed drawing, showing a perspective View of the gate, the dotted lines indicating the position assumed when the gate is tilted and folded.

The gate proper is formed of slats or rails A, pivoted to battens B, and the whole pivoted at one end to a post, 0, setin theground. fires D may also le used stretching from batten to batten, and having pivotal connections therewith.

The top rail is extended beyond the supporting-post, and there carries a weight, E, counterbalancing the weight of the gate.

A diagonal rail extends wholly or partly across the gate, and is composed of two parts, F and G, one constructed preferably shorter than the other. A joint similar to those used in rules connects the two pieces, and is so formed that no force, except one from below, will move the two parts out of line when once in that position. 7

Pivoted to the pintle of the joint, one on each side, are rods H, connected to the shorter arms of lever-arms I, fulerumed toa cross-bar, K, on the top of the post 0.

By raisingthe jointed portion by means of the levers the distance between the pivotal points of the diagonal rail F G is shortened, and at the same time the posts B not pivoted to the battens O are made to approach and rise.

When the rods H have passed the perpendicular, the weight E will carry the extension of the top rail toward the post 0 and cause the gate to assume the position shown in dotted lines in the drawing.

A reverse of the above operation will close or more properly lower the gate, and the abutting portions of the diagonal rail will effectually lock the gate.

I am aware that tilting counterbalanced gates are old, and I am also aware that looking-jointed diagonal rails are old in sliding gates, and that tilting gates have been operated by levers heretofore; butI am not aware that counterbalanced tilting gates have been provided with diagonal-jointed locking-rails and operated by levers, the connection from the levers passing to and joining the rail at the said joint.

I claim 7 The combination, with a tilting counterbalanced gate, of a diagonal rail. formed of two parts normally in a line one with the other and joined by a rule or looking joint, and operating-levers having connection with therail at the joint, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. HO\VE.

- Witnesses:

FRED. 0. LORING, M. V. ORENsHAW. 

